Posted by Lee Stofer on January 05, 2003 at 20:03:52:
In Reply to: advice posted by Please on January 03, 2003 at 11:34:18:
I have worked on a couple of King 2341's in the recent past, and would caution you to check out several, and find one you really want before laying out the cash. The same thing would apply to any horn, but particularly to these, as they have quite a bit of variance.
If the Mirafone tuba you mention is anything like the Mirafone 1290 CC I re-worked for Marty Neilan last winter, that could be an excellent tuba. Re-working the 5th valve, cleaning up some small flaws in the pistons, some other refinement work and a good cleanup resulted in a Mirafone that played much like a B&S PT-6P, but cost much less.
Have you looked at any really good used BBb tubas, or at the Meinl-Weston model 25 that Baltimore Brass sells? It is modestly priced, and is a really very good instrument. I could play 98% of my pro gigs on a M-W 25, or on the King for that matter. A bit of play-testing and patience (not tuba fever) will pay off in the long run.
Lee Stofer